Painter&#39;s extension-plank.



J. RIIKONEN;

PAINTBR'S EXTENSION BLANK. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1909.

968,805. Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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J. RIIKONEN.

PAINTERS EXTENSION PLANK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.16, 1909.

968,805. Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. RIIKONEN.

. Patented Aug.30, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

QN QWH as shown in Fig. 1.

JOHN RIIKONEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PAINTERS EXTENSION-PLANK.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented'Aug. 30, 1910- Applicationfiled January 16, 19(l9. Serial No. 472,745.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN RIIKONEN, a subject of the Czar of Russia,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Painters Extension-Planks, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of supports called planks used bypainters, paper hangers and decorators in the interior of buildings inwhich the rooms, halls, etc., vary in floor space and various lengths ofplanks are required for the support of the workmen in the performance oftheir work on the upper partsof the walls and ceilings.

The object of my invention is to provide a plank having independentslidable extensions; a main body supporting the extensions whichconsists of two portions pivotally joined together and adapted therebyto be folded close together and secured for easy transportation underthe arm; which when opened for use will lock automatically in the openposition the locking mechanism forming a truss by which the plank isadapted to sustain a weight several times greater than is ever requiredto be placed upon it, thereby providing for the lightest constructionand material and'thus providing for the lightest, longest, strongest,most adjustable and convenient for use and transportation.

The manner in which I accomplish my ob ject is described in thefollowing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a top plan of the device when folded for use, transportationor storage. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device folded Fig. 3 is aleft end elevation and Fig. 4 a right end elevation of the device in thepositions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a top plan of the deviceopened out to the locked position of the two main parts. Fig. 6 is aside elevation, the parts being in the same position as in Fig. 5resting on the top of supporting ladders, the dotted lines indicatingthe extensions and change in position of the supporting ladders. Fig. 7is an enlarged detail of the locking mechanism. Fig. 8 is an enlargeddetail of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of partof the lock shownin Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is an underneath plan of the parts in the positionshown in Fig. 5. Fig. 11 is the same as Fig. 10 with the extensionpartly drawn out. Fig. 12 is a vertical cross seca main center bar B andB and smaller 4 bars B At the pivoted ends of these parts the bars B arespaced from each other by space blocks B and secured together by the tierods 13*. At the other ends the bars B, B and B are spaced and tiedtogether by tie plates B and bolts 13. Slidably supported between thebars and tie plates of the parts A and A are extensions C and C Theseparts consist of bars C. The ends of the bars slidable in the parts Aand A are secured together by the tie plates C and bolts C. The exteriorends are spaced by the blocks C and secured together by the tie rods GSecured to the underside of the bars B and blocks 13 are hinge plates D,

these together with the brackets D are pivotally joined by the bolts DPivotally connected to the brackets D are truss rods D The other ends Dof these rods are adapted to be parts of a locking device herein afterdescribed.

Secured to the undersides of the center bars B and B are slotted lockplates E. These plates are adapted to guide and slidably secure the endsD of the truss rods, the movements of which are limited by the slots E.On the side of these look plates, secured on the bars B and B are springlatches F. Under the free end of each of these latches, the ends D ofthe truss rods are moved and are locked when the parts A and A areopened to the position shown in Fig. 6. To release the truss rods fromthis locked position, the latches are moved by pressure on the ears Ftill the ends D of the truss rods are free. When the parts A and A arefolded together the ends D of the truss rods slide to the other end ofthe lock plates as shown in Fig. 2. To hold the parts A and A in thefolded position the hooks G in the ends of the extensions C and C aremade fast as shown in Figs. 2 and 4:.

When the several parts are constructed and combined as described andillustrated the device is operated and used as follows:

For storage, transportation or use in the smallest space, the parts Aand A are folded and hooked together in the position shown in Figs. 1,2, 3, and 4. When in general use the parts A and A are opened to theposition shown in Figs. 5 and 10. As these parts are opened the ends Dof the truss rods D slide from the position shown in Fig. 14 along theplates E and under the nose F of the latch F. When the end D reaches theend of the slot the latch snaps over it as shown in Fig. 13. WVhen bothends reach the locked position the brackets D are vertical as shown inFig. 6, and the truss complete and secure. When a greater length isrequired one or both extensions can be drawn out as shown in Fig. 11,the horses or ladders being moved to the extensions as shown by thedotted lines in Fig. (3.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A device of thekind described, consisting of two main portions constructed of a seriesof bars slidably connected together, two pairs of angle plates securedto the underside of the fixed outer bars, the vertical parts of eachpair of plates being adapted to be joined by a pivot bolt and therebyform hinged joints connecting said Inain portions; a pair of plate barbrackets bent in the form of a V the ends thereof being twisted andthereby adapted to form a pivot joint at the apex and to be pivotallyjoined at the other ends to said angle plates and thereby form part ofsaid hinge joints; pivot bolts and nuts adapted for joining said parts;two longitudinal bars pivotally connected to the apex joint of saidbrackets, the opposite ends of said bars bent at right angles andforming a horizontal transverse projection; a pair of slotted platessecured one to the underside of the central fixed bar in each of saidmain portions and spaced therefrom, each of said plates being adapted toslidably secure the transverse projecting end of said longitudinal bars;and a pair of spring latches, secured one on each of said central fixedbars parallel with said slotted plates the free end of each of saidlatches being adapted to be raised by said projecting ends of said ba'rsslidable in said plate and to snap lock said bars in said plates whensaid main portions are extended for use and to be raised and therebyrelease said bars whereby said bars are free to slide in said plateswhen said main portions are folded together as described.

JOHN RIIKONEN.

Witnesses THOMAS J. MORGAN, JOHN LINNA.

